Bangladesh Under-19 Team received another setback ahead of the Youth World Cup as they lost to Afghanistan by 56 runs in the official warm-up match yesterday in Christchurch.

It was Bangladesh’s third successive defeat following their two defeats against Otago A team in the practice matches, which was arranged to help them prepare nicely for the main tournament.

Bangladesh Under-19 bowlers however did their best by wrapping up Afghanistan for 206 in 48.2 overs but the batsmen failed to complement the bowlers’ effort, being all out for 150 in just 41.2 overs with just two batsmen crossing double digit figure.

Bangladesh youths in fact were on course to a facile victory despite losing opener Nayeem Hasan cheaply to be reduced to 15 for one. However Pinak Ghosh and Saif Hasan put up 77 runs for the second wicket to lay a solid foundation, only to see that the team losing eight wickets for just 44 runs to taste a shameful defeat.

Pinak Ghosh was the highest scorer with 54 runs while captain Saif Hasan scored 43 runs.

Qais Ahmed and Naveen-ul-Haque were the wrecker-in-chief, sharing six wickets evenly between them.

Being sent to bat first, Afghanistan lost six wickets before crossing 100 runs mark but they had Azmatullah Omarzai who played a whirlwind 66 ball-81 to take the side in a safe position. Omarzai struck five fours and as many sixes, much to the disappointment of the Bangladeshi bowlers who raised the prospect of bundling the Afghanistan out for below 150.

Bahir Shah was the other notable scorer with 44 runs. Hasan Mahmud snapped up four for 46 while Robiul Haque scalped three for 56 for Bangladesh.